New study shows benefits of bariatric surgery
A study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that obese patients who have received bariatric (weight loss) surgery experience a long-term reduction in the rates of cardiovascular diseaseDisease of the heart and blood vessels, usually due to atherosclerosis. and death from heart attacks and strokes.
Whilst obesityExcess accumulation of fat in the body. is known to increase the risks of developing cardiovascular disease, evidence that weight loss can reduce cardiovascular problems has been lacking. This new survey however, conducted by researchers from Sweden, found that “bariatric surgery is associated with reduced incidenceThe number of new episodes of a condition arising in a certain group of people over a specified period of time. of cardiovascular deaths and cardiovascular events.”
The research took place in almost 500 primary health care centres and included over 4000 obese patients in two groups, one group who received surgery and one who did not. The methods of bariatric surgery undertaken included gastric bypass and gastric banding, with the most popular surgery being vertical banded gastroplasty (also known as stomachthe organ or the body where food is stored and broken down stapling). The authors conclude that “there are many benefits to bariatric surgery [some of which]… are independent of the… weight loss.”



